Preserving Sacred Forests and Rivers in Abanyom, Cross River State, Nigeria: Is the Environmental Worldview Eco-Centric, Anthropocentric or Relational?

Abstract

Abstract The debate surrounding the ethical nature of the African environmental worldview remains inconclusive, with some scholars arguing that it is primarily eco-centric, while others claim that it is largely anthropocentric. Using the case study of Abanyom’s preservation of sacred forests and rivers, we revisited this debate by exploring the taboos and rituals associated with these sacred sites as well as the motivations for their preservation. The study conducted in-depth interviews with 15 community members (comprising traditional leaders, clan heads and chief priests) and analysed the data thematically. The findings reveal that the Abanyom community’s environmental worldview cannot be strictly classified as either eco-centric or anthropocentric. Instead, the worldview is best categorised under the relational value framework, an “in-between” category that incorporates elements from both perspectives. The study recommends utilising the relational value framework in future research on African relationships with nature and in formulating environmental sustainability policies on the continent.